CINCINNATI — Linebacker Vontaze Burfict has gone from low-risk investment to being the heart of the Cincinnati Bengals defense in only two years.

The coaching staff thinks so much of the Pro Bowl linebacker that it’s molding one of the league’s best defenses around him in only his third season.

Coach Marvin Lewis, who has craved a leader in the style of former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, thinks he has one in the making.

“I thought Vontaze had those qualities really early on,” Lewis said. “He was one of the best players I had seen after his first practice. I told him he was going to be a very good player. He has not disappointed me.

“He has the ingredients of what a great NFL player for a period of time can be. They’re innate to him.”

Nobody doubted Burfict’s instincts. It’s the other stuff that has held him back.

Burfict was a dazzling linebacker at Arizona State, but he let his emotions get in the way. He repeatedly was penalized and disciplined for personal fouls. A low point was a 2010 game in which Burfict head-butted Oregon State quarterback Ryan Katz. After a poor showing at the 2012 NFL combine, Burfict was tagged as high risk.

Nobody drafted him. The Bengals signed him as a free agent.

Last season, Burfict led the team in tackles 12 times, was honored as the AFC’s defensive player of the week for a 15-tackle performance against Cleveland that included a fumble return for a touchdown, and made his first Pro Bowl.

Everyone could see that the defense had a new leader on the field, even though Burfict doesn’t consider himself the main one.

“Everybody on this defense thinks of himself as a leader,” Burfict said after practice yesterday. “At the end of the day, I’m just worried about all 11 getting lined up and getting to the ball. I’m not worried about who’s watching me, making sure I do it right.

“I’m relentless to the ball, and hopefully the others on the field are the same way.”

Quarterback Andy Dalton has watched Burfict lead the defense during practices with his passionate play.

“Just the way that he plays speaks for itself, but he’s also a guy who’s really vocal, who gets guys to play up to his level,” Dalton said. “And that’s exactly what you want from your starting linebacker.”

New defensive coordinator Paul Guenther is working on getting more pressure on the quarterback this season. Burfict plays outside linebacker in their base defense, inside linebacker in their other formations. Guenther has put a lot of responsibility on Burfict to make the right calls before the snap.

Asked how close the defense is to being built around Burfict, Guenther said, “Pretty close.”